Ahmedabad waterlogging may persist for three years as drainage work continues

Ahmedabad could continue to face waterlogging for at least three years as stormwater infrastructure work remains linked to several major road projects under construction across the city.

The ongoing projects include the SG Highway development, beautification of the SG Highway service road and six-laning of the SP Ring Road. Stormwater lines are to be laid as part of these works.

Existing stormwater networks also need to be upgraded, while lakes in areas around the SG Highway and SP Ring Road need to be interlinked.

An average of 5-6 inches of rain was recorded in western Ahmedabad on Monday. The SG Highway service road, Sindhu Bhavan Road and Iscon-Ambli Road were among the areas flooded. Five other roads connecting the SG Highway and SP Ring Road were also submerged.

An Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority official stated: “Auda has approved a Rs 2,200-crore project for six-laning the 76km SP Ring Road.”

The official said Package 1 covers a 37-km stretch in the eastern part of the city, while Package 2 covers a 39.2-km stretch in the west.

“Service roads will be expanded, with 34km of the existing two-lane road widened to four lanes,” the official said. “And a 15km stretch of three-lane service roads will be upgraded to four lanes.”

The SP Ring Road project also includes two new three-lane bridges adjacent to the existing bridges over the Sabarmati river at Bhat and Kamod.

Three six-lane underpasses are planned at Bhat Circle, Chiloda Circle and Aslali Circle. Six new foot overbridges will also be constructed across the SP Ring Road.

An AMC official stated: “In 2017, the state govt’s roads and buildings department initiated the SG Highway upgrade project, spanning the corridor from Nana Chiloda to Rajkot.”

The department has already constructed four flyovers on SG Highway at a cost exceeding Rs 1,000 crore.

“A flyover is under construction from Karnavati Club to YMCA Club, and another from Gota flyover to Vaishnodevi Junction,” the official said.

The report said projects on SG Highway had resulted in some manholes of duct lines laid parallel to the highway being buried or blocked. This has contributed to chronic waterlogging along the service roads.

The stormwater network on Sindhu Bhavan Road was laid 15 years ago and its carrying capacity has reduced. Inspections also found gaps in pipeline connectivity and broken stormwater lines.

The AMC plans to identify plots on both sides of the SG Highway corridor for more than 10 artificial lakes. It also plans to interlink seven lakes near the SP Ring Road and SG Highway through stormwater lines at a cost of Rs 77.2 crore.